A. The court may permit a defendant charged with a misdemeanor to be arraigned,
enter his plea of guilty, or be tried, in his absence.

B. A plea of not guilty of a misdemeanor may always be entered through counsel and
in the absence of the defendant.

C. Nothing in this Article prohibits the court, by local rule, from providing for a
defendant's appearance at his arraignment, at the entry of his plea of guilty, or both, by
simultaneous audio-visual transmission in accordance with the provisions of Articles 551 and
562.